Pattern formation on the surface of cationic-anionic cylindrical aggregates

TL;DR

This study investigates how charged peptide amphiphiles self-assemble into cylindrical micelles with patterned surfaces, revealing how electrostatic interactions and geometry influence domain formation and morphology.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of pattern formation mechanisms on cylindrical micelles, highlighting the roles of electrostatics and geometry in domain segregation and phase transitions.

Findings

Segregated domains form due to incompatibility and are influenced by electrostatics.

Transition to striped phases involves fluctuation-driven intermediate states.

Morphology depends on cylinder radius and interaction parameter.

Abstract

Charged pattern formation on the surfaces of self--assembled cylindrical micelles formed from oppositely charged heterogeneous molecules such as cationic and anionic peptide amphiphiles is investigated. The net incompatibility $\chi$ among different components results in the formation of segregated domains, whose growth is inhibited by electrostatics. The transition to striped phases proceeds through an intermediate structure governed by fluctuations, followed by states with various lamellar orientations, which depend on cylinder radius $R_c$ and $\chi$. We analyze the specific heat, susceptibility $S(q^*)$, domain size $\Lambda=2\pi/q^*$ and morphology as a function of $R_c$ and $\chi$.